I’m a Reedsy Discovery reviewer! I received a free ARC of Wolf Tit by David Melie for this review.

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After World War III was brought to an end by the Overwhelming Drone Armada (ODA), the world is finally at peace. The ODA, a weapon deadlier than nuclear bombs, continues to be wielded by the Witch and Warlock (WW) Brigade. These WWs are highly trained soldiers who use their drones with deadly precision. The Omnis Iudex, leader of the Witch and Warlock Brigade, sits in the city-state of R’Taben. From there, he is responsible for keeping threats of war in check with the WWs. Regina Cani is a highly competent Witch and one of the generals in the WW Brigade. All her life, Regina has done whatever it took to reach the top. Now that she’s here, it’s time for her to realize her true ambition…

Wolf Tit is a plot-driven book replete with cinematic action sequences and political maneuvering. The high-tech action scenes make up some of the best writing in the book. Unfortunately, weak character development detracts from the social intrigue. The WWs are not given much character depth, and grow very little throughout the novel.

The story switches between the present, and flashbacks to the lives of various characters. The ODA and WW Brigade have a dense history. Through these flashbacks, readers learn about the drone technology that changed the world, the brothers who developed it, and how their rivalry has shaped Regina, the WWs, and the world. These chapters mostly work well, except near the end of the novel. As the book builds to its climax, the excitement is quickly cut off by flashback chapters. The climax is uninterrupted by the past, but the pacing of the third act may be frustrating to some readers.

A number of plot holes also detract from the novel. For example, during a crucial moment, new information is revealed that contradicts the WW Brigade’s previously established control and ability. While some readers may be swept along by the story, others will have a hard time suspending their disbelief. Wolf Tit has a strong foundation for a compelling sci-fi/intrigue. Sadly, it does not live up to its full potential.

However, Wolf Tit is an enjoyable novel with some fantastic action and dream sequences. This book is a great choice for fans of hyper-competent characters, intrigue, and tech-based sci-fi.